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Wyoming wildfire triples in size in 1 day
Posted 6/19/12
CHEYENNE — More firefighting resources are being sent to help battle a 2,000-acre wildfire burning in rugged terrain in the Medicine Bow National Forest.
The fire is located about 30 miles south of Glenrock in Converse County. It was spotted on Sunday and tripled in size on Monday because of strong winds gusting up to 40 mph.
Residents of widely scattered ranches and cabins in the area were advised to evacuate Monday afternoon. A shelter has been set up in Douglas.
Converse County Undersheriff Don Schoenleber had no estimate of the number of residents in the area, but a shelter was set up in Douglas, about 35 miles away.
“This is in a mountainous region, very few roads,” Schoenleber said.
Forest Service spokesman Larry Sandoval said more experienced federal fire managers were being brought in Monday evening to take over fighting the fire, which was dubbed the Russell’s Camp Fire. Its origin was unknown.
There are more than 200 firefighters on the scene, aided by six helicopters and two bulldozers. On Tuesday, two single-engine air attack planes are joining in.
The firefighting effort will be challenged again by another day of hot, dry, windy conditions. The National Weather Service has posted a red flag warning for much of southern Wyoming.